Verón-Punta Cana, La Altagracia — More than half of the Verón-Punta Cana tourism district will be placed under a special protection regime under a proposed Territorial Planning Plan, or POT, aimed at guiding rapid urban expansion, protecting natural resources and supporting sustainable development in one of the Dominican Republic’s leading tourism areas.
The plan designates 55% of the district’s territory for special protection. Of the district’s total 484.44 square kilometers, approximately 265 square kilometers would fall under protected-use categories, including agricultural, forestry, environmental, coastal-marine, mining and special-service areas.
Under the proposal, 30% of the territory would be classified as urban land, while the remaining 15% would be designated as developable land for future planned expansion.
Growth drives need for territorial planning
The POT was developed in response to the rapid demographic and urban growth experienced by Verón-Punta Cana in recent years, largely fueled by tourism investment and a continuing influx of residents, workers and investors.
Population figures illustrate the scale of the change. The district grew from 43,982 residents in 2010 to 138,919 in 2022, an increase of 215.9%. Projections included in the planning framework estimate that the population could reach 241,767 by 2035, representing a further increase of approximately 74%.
Authorities say the proposed land-use framework is intended to ensure that infrastructure, housing, tourism development and public services can keep pace with that growth while reducing pressure on sensitive ecosystems.
Plan identifies environmental and urban-development pressures
The plan’s diagnostic assessment identifies several existing environmental conflicts across the district. These include occupation of protected areas such as Hoyo Claro and its buffer zone, settlements located within mining concessions, and construction in water-recharge areas.
It also cites growing pressure on mangroves and wetlands from tourism development, as well as unplanned urban expansion through land subdivisions outside established urban zones.
By setting aside large portions of the territory for special protection and defining areas for urban development and future expansion, authorities aim to balance economic activity with environmental conservation.
The proposal is expected to play a central role in shaping the next phase of growth in Verón-Punta Cana, where the protection of water resources, coastal ecosystems and natural areas is increasingly viewed as essential to the long-term sustainability of the local tourism economy and the wider province of La Altagracia.
